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Who doesn't like a good 'ol changelog? I'll be updating this particular thread with news on tweaks, new features, and some behind the scenes improvements. What this will entail is regular updates to the community but, major updates will still get their own announcements separately. Sunday, 08-17 Moved database to new URL Layout change on the main forum page. Updated the category images

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JoshB

December 31, 2025Dec 31

Social media makes it impossible to avoid seeing other creators' highlights while you're in the messy middle of your own journey. How do you handle the comparison trap? Share strategies for turning envy into inspiration, maintaining perspective on your own progress, and remembering that everyone's timeline is different. Discuss whether you've found ways to genuinely celebrate others' wins while building your own path.

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JoshB

January 16Jan 16

Are you a lone wolf developer handling everything yourself, or have you found collaborators to share the workload? Discuss the creative freedom versus capability limitations of solo development, how to find reliable collaborators, and managing team dynamics in indie game development. What skills have you had to learn yourself versus finding partners to handle?

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JoshB

January 16Jan 16

For physical makers, choosing sales channels significantly impacts business success. Compare your experiences selling on marketplaces versus independent stores, discuss fees, discoverability, and customer trust factors. Which platforms have driven the most sales for you, and how do you balance presence across multiple channels? Share the unexpected realities of selling on different platforms.

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JoshB

January 14Jan 14

When your handmade items start selling, how do you increase production to meet demand while maintaining the quality and personal touch that made people want them in the first place? Share your experiences with scaling craft businesses, discuss whether you've brought in help or taught others your techniques, and talk about the challenge of remaining "handmade" as you grow. Where do you draw the line between growth and losing what made your work special?

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JoshB

January 14Jan 14

A well-organized workshop sounds great in theory, but maintaining it while actively creating is another matter entirely. Share your organization systems, storage solutions, and realistic strategies for keeping tools accessible without descending into chaos. Discuss whether you're naturally organized or constantly battling clutter, and what methods have actually stuck for you long-term.

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JoshB

January 13Jan 13

Looking back at your earlier work, how has your creative voice evolved? Share examples of your progression, discuss what influenced the changes, and whether the evolution was intentional or organic. Talk about finding your distinctive style versus trying to fit market demands, and whether you still see threads of your earlier work in what you create today.

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JoshB

January 13Jan 13

Every creator has a different approach to structuring their time. Are you an early morning creator or a night owl? Do you batch similar tasks or switch between activities throughout the day? Share your daily routine, how it's evolved, what you've tried that didn't work, and how you maintain productivity without burning out. Discuss the challenge of self-imposed structure when you're your own boss.

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JoshB

January 13Jan 13

Game development is notorious for projects that expand endlessly and never ship. How do you maintain scope discipline while still creating something worthwhile? Discuss project management strategies, how you decide what features are essential versus nice-to-have, and the emotional challenge of cutting content you love. Share your experiences with finished versus abandoned projects and what made the difference.

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JoshB

January 12Jan 12

Creating content that ranks well in search engines while still telling compelling stories feels like serving two masters. How do you optimize for discoverability without sacrificing the human element that makes content worth consuming? Share your approach to keyword research, title optimization, and structure while maintaining voice and narrative flow. Have you found ways to make SEO-friendly content that doesn't feel robotic?

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JoshB

January 12Jan 12

In an age of digital tools and AI assistance, what's the value of mastering traditional artistic techniques? Whether it's learning to draw by hand, developing darkroom photography skills, or studying classical writing structures, discuss why (or whether) these foundational skills still matter. How do traditional methods inform or enhance digital work? Share your journey with traditional techniques and how they've shaped your creative practice.

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JoshB

January 11Jan 11

Without formal training or curriculum, how do you decide what to learn next and how to learn it effectively? Discuss resources you've found valuable, how you balance learning new skills versus deepening existing ones, and strategies for avoiding tutorial hell where you're always learning but never creating. Share your approach to structured versus exploratory learning.

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JoshB

January 9Jan 9

Many creators find that teaching others deepens their own understanding. Have you created tutorials, courses, or educational content? Discuss how explaining your process to others clarified your own thinking, challenges of breaking down intuitive skills into teachable steps, and whether teaching has become part of your creative practice or business model.

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JoshB

January 8Jan 8

There's endless debate about maintaining your own website and email list versus building primarily on social platforms. What's your strategy and why? Discuss the trade-offs between platform reach and owned audiences, the effort required to maintain independent properties, and how platform changes have affected your business. If you've migrated from platform-dependent to platform-independent (or vice versa), what prompted the change?

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JoshB

January 8Jan 8

Some creators swear by batching content weeks or months in advance, while others thrive on the energy of creating in the moment. What approach works for your creative process and content type? Discuss the pros and cons of each method, how you maintain consistency without burning out, and whether you've found a hybrid approach that combines planning with spontaneity. How do you balance efficiency with authenticity?

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JoshB

January 8Jan 8

There's a fundamental difference between accumulating followers and cultivating genuine community. An audience watches; a community participates. How have you approached building relationships with the people who support your work? What strategies have helped you transform passive viewers into active participants? Discuss the value of smaller, engaged communities versus larger, less connected audiences, and share tactics that have helped you foster meaningful connections.

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JoshB

January 7Jan 7

Pricing creative work is one of the hardest business challenges makers face. How do you calculate what to charge when you're competing with mass production? Discuss formulas you use, how you factor in your time and expertise, and the psychology of pricing. Share experiences with being told your work is "too expensive" and how you've learned to communicate value. How do you price work sustainably without pricing yourself out of the market?

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JoshB

January 6Jan 6

Should beginners invest in quality tools from the start, or buy budget options to learn before upgrading? Discuss your philosophy on tool acquisition, share which investments paid off and which you regret, and offer advice for newcomers deciding where to put limited funds. Talk about the tools that legitimately require quality versus those where budget options work fine.

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JoshB

January 6Jan 6

When every tool wants a monthly subscription, creator expenses add up quickly. Which software subscriptions do you consider absolutely essential, and which have you cut or replaced with free alternatives? Discuss the true value proposition of premium tools versus free options, whether Adobe Creative Cloud is still worth it, and strategies for managing software costs. What's your threshold for saying yes to another subscription?

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JoshB

January 6Jan 6

In a world of fast fashion and planned obsolescence, there's something profoundly satisfying about crafting objects built to endure. What draws you to creating physical items meant to last years or generations? Discuss the materials, techniques, and philosophy behind durable making, the pride in craftsmanship that prioritizes quality over quantity, and how you communicate this value to potential customers who are accustomed to cheaper, disposable alternatives.

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JoshB

January 5Jan 5

Putting genuinely personal creative work into the world requires enormous courage. How do you push past the fear of judgment, criticism, or indifference? Discuss the emotional weight of sharing art that comes from a deeply personal place, strategies for developing thicker skin without becoming closed off, and how you distinguish between constructive feedback and noise. What keeps you sharing even when it feels scary?

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JoshB

January 5Jan 5

With new platforms emerging constantly and established ones changing their algorithms, how do you decide where to invest your limited time and energy? Are you all-in on one or two platforms, or do you spread yourself across multiple channels? Share your platform strategy, discuss which platforms have given you the best ROI on your effort, and talk about the exhaustion that comes from trying to maintain presence everywhere. How do you decide when to abandon a platform that's not working?

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JoshB

January 4Jan 4

Every creator faces this tension: do you create what genuinely excites you, or do you optimize for what performs well on platforms? How do you balance artistic integrity with practical considerations like reach and monetization? Share your experiences with following trends versus blazing your own trail, and how you've navigated the pressure to create "what works" instead of what matters to you. Have you found a middle ground, or do you firmly plant your flag on one side?

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JoshB

January 4Jan 4

Making the leap from hobbyist to professional creator is one of the most significant decisions in any maker's journey. What signs told you it was time to go all-in? Was it reaching a certain income threshold, audience size, or simply an internal knowing that you couldn't ignore your creative calling any longer? Share your transition story, the fears you faced, and what you wish you'd known before taking the plunge. For those still balancing a day job with creative work, what would it take for you to make the switch?

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JoshB

January 2Jan 2

Streaming platforms often say they can't moderate content until it's reported, using "safe harbor" laws as protection. But should platforms that profit from content have more responsibility to actively monitor for harmful material? Or would that create an impossible standard that would shut down smaller platforms?

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JoshB

December 31, 2025Dec 31